Special RAF visitor rekindles links to town's famous flying boats

A Puma helicopter from one of the RAF’s most famous squadrons makes a flying visit to Pembroke Dock tomorow (Thursday) - re-establishing historic connections with the town and its flying boat heritage.

The Puma 2, which has recently undergone a life extension programme, is operated by No 230 Squadron at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.

This particular aircraft has been specially painted in the black colour scheme as worn by ‘Black Peter’, a Sunderland flown by the squadron during World War II.

No 230 Squadron flew Sunderlands for nearly 20 years, much of that time at RAF Pembroke Dock, up to 1957.

The Puma is scheduled to arrive around 12.45 pm as part of a routine training sortie and is expected to remain on the ground for around 90 minutes.

It will land within the former Royal Dockyard and RAF Station, courtesy of the Port of Milford Haven, alongside the western Sunderland hangar.

This flying visit is in advance of the D-Day 70th anniversary events arranged by the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust at the town’s Heritage Centre on the Friday and Saturday.

The visit of the Puma is subject to weather and operational requirements.

After the aircraft’s arrival there will be limited public access from the gate on the road leading to the Ferry Terminal on the western side of the dockyard.

The gate will be manned by Sunderland Trust Volunteers. There will be no access through Gate 1 of Port of Pembroke, near Front Street.